The Sabaoth Defender was designed and built to escort the Sabaoth Destroyers built several years earlier. Expensive, even by modern fighter costs, the Defenders were crucial to space superiority, due to their shielding and armor, which still match any modern-day fighter. Defenders can work alone or be based on a ship during tactical operations. Historically, under optimal situations 2 squadrons of Defenders would be placed on a Sabaoth Destroyer, leaving plenty of room for support craft.